Is it hard to get a security clearance?

[Deeko]

So I got a job offer from Lockheed, but its contingent on me getting a security clearance. Is this pretty standard?

 

[Farbio]

pretty standard, but good luck on it....lived w/ a couple of engineering masters students previously - 1 had top secret clearance, the other none - the one w/out the clearance had a much harder time getting a job offer and tried to get his clearance, had to jump through a ton of hoops to even try and last we talked he was still tryin to get it.
easiest way to get it is to join the military honestly

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Deeko
So I got a job offer from Lockheed, but its contingent on me getting a security clearance. Is this pretty standard?

It takes forever to get your clearance. I'm still waiting on receiving my secret clearance... it's been about... 6-7 months so far?

Also, what position is it that you're looking for that requires you to already have a security clearance? Doesn't sound like one of the entry-level positions to me. Also, which Lockheed facility?

EDIT:

It's also loads of fun filling out the 35 page form :laugh:.

 

[purbeast0]

are they going to sponsor it for you? or do you have to get it yourself?

typically jobs will get it for you. if so, that's gold.

 

[TallBill]

They are handling the EPSQ I'm assuming? Just a regular secret clearance is fairly easy to get. Heck, I have one... lol

 

[nakedfrog]

Secret clearance is pretty easy to get. Anything above that is a bit more stringent.

 

[NoMoMoney]

It is standard for a job offer to be contingent upon that. They will hire you before and you just go through the process while working. If you get denied you get booted. Secret will come quick (<1 year) , anything else you'll have interim for a while.

 

[jlazzaro]

like everyone said, Secret doesnt pry into your life like TS+...shouldnt have any problems unless you've overthrown any government agencies recently.

youll be granted interim status almost immediately after filling your EPSQ, fingerprints, release forms, etc.

BTW, welcome to Lockheed

 

[krunchykrome]

I am still waiting for my clearance. It is sponsored through the firm I work for. It's been three months since I've applied. My application was only 7-10 pages long though, so again, Im not sure what type of clearance it was that I applied for. All I know is that it is required for my job.

 

[Codewiz]

Best Advice. Be honest about EVERYTHING......don't try to hide some stupid little secret. They will find out and you will be screwed.

 

[Parasitic]

Are you an American citizen? If yes, skip to page 63, sign and date on the bottom.
The following pages 1b-63 are required for non-US citizens/permanent residents, or foreigners on a visiting visa.

 

[habib89]

i think it's fairly easy, but is lockheed sponsoring it? dude, hook me up!

 

[jaybert]

lol..i applied for an internship that required top secret clearance w/ the NSA....the process was INSANE. like someone said, you have to fill out the longest background form I have ever seen...had to list where I had ever lived, how many times I've done drugs, etc, etc. Also list all non-citizens that I am in contact with.

They went to every location I've lived recently, and ask random neighbors if they knew me. I also had to provide them a list of my friends, and they randomly chose some to interview. They also visited my school and got my student records (one of the form I had to fill our was that they could request any records, and this form gave them permission).


I then had to goto Baltimore, and do a polygraph + psych eval. I ended up taking another job...so I stopped after the polygraph step, but they called me later asking me to go back for a second polygraph. This was in October/November or so...for a internship start in June or so

 

[Canai]

^^ wow.

 

[b0mbrman]

S and below, pretty easy
TS and above, not so easy

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: jaybert
lol..i applied for an internship that required top secret clearance w/ the NSA....the process was INSANE. like someone said, you have to fill out the longest background form I have ever seen...had to list where I had ever lived, how many times I've done drugs, etc, etc. Also list all non-citizens that I am in contact with.

Sounds mostly like the form I filled out for Secret clearance... which unlike someone else said, you most certainly cannot skip to the end and sign it . One little thing wrong, and it'll get sent back to you to amend. I had mine sent back because I couldn't remember my older half-sister's address .

 

[xgsound]

The hardest part for me was when I had to list the wife's family and thier spouses. That was even worse than coming up with all my addresses and jobs. She has 11 siblings. They wanted full official names of everyone concerned.


Jim

 

[mercanucaribe]

This lady at work said her son got a job with Raytheon and had to wait for security clearance. For the whole 6 months or whatever, he couldn't do any work, but he had to be in their campus 8 hours a day. They just played games and watched TV.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: Deeko
So I got a job offer from Lockheed, but its contingent on me getting a security clearance. Is this pretty standard?

It takes forever to get your clearance. I'm still waiting on receiving my secret clearance... it's been about... 6-7 months so far?

Also, what position is it that you're looking for that requires you to already have a security clearance? Doesn't sound like one of the entry-level positions to me. Also, which Lockheed facility?

EDIT:

It's also loads of fun filling out the 35 page form :laugh:.

Took me less than 2 months to get my Top Secret. Im not gonna mention it here, but there are ways to get it done quickly. It just depends who is gonna be holding your clearance, and how badly they want you to have it

 

[zuljinAF]

TS typically takes 2 years or more and cost 80-85 grand on average (this from when the investigation is started NOT when you submit the paper work, that can take another 2 years depending on the urgancy of the request). a Secret clearance is 6 months to a year, and cost considerably less. Also if your stuck using EPSQ i feel sorry for you! The new EQuip is MUCH easier and makes the process faster as the agencies that do the back checks are doing the EQuip submissions before EPSQ. Also a secret is good for 10 years and a TS for 5 years. Re-investigations can start around 6 months prior to your clearance expiring. Also if you let a TS expire you still have a secret for 5 more years. Ok that's all the info I can really remember.

Oh yeah, I'm the former security manager for my old Missle Squadron in the Air Force
currenlty TS/SCI ESI-CAT "C", formally known as TS/SCI SIOP ESI-CAT 6 & 10. :-D

 

[PrinceofWands]

Secret was a walk in the park, at least when I was military. They didn't even talk to anyone as far as I know. I filled out a couple pages of forms and a few weeks later received notice that it was all done. Above secret gets much tougher however. Well, I shouldn't say tougher...more in depth would be more accurate. Not unusual for special clearances to take a few months or even longer.

 

[RichUK]

My secret clearance from the MoD took 4 months. I am BC and SC cleared.

I?ve yet to apply for DV clearance which is top secret clearance, as I don?t require it ATM.

If you fail the vetting in the DV clearance you lose your secret clearance (with regards to the MoD).

One of my colleagues is DV cleared and apparently you and your previous employer gets interviewed as part of the process. Pretty crazy stuff.

 

[IEC]

As long as you aren't Middle Eastern or look like a terrorist...

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Best Advice. Be honest about EVERYTHING......don't try to hide some stupid little secret. They will find out and you will be screwed.

Agreed.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: jaybert
lol..i applied for an internship that required top secret clearance w/ the NSA....the process was INSANE. like someone said, you have to fill out the longest background form I have ever seen...had to list where I had ever lived, how many times I've done drugs, etc, etc. Also list all non-citizens that I am in contact with.

They went to every location I've lived recently, and ask random neighbors if they knew me. I also had to provide them a list of my friends, and they randomly chose some to interview. They also visited my school and got my student records (one of the form I had to fill our was that they could request any records, and this form gave them permission).


I then had to goto Baltimore, and do a polygraph + psych eval. I ended up taking another job...so I stopped after the polygraph step, but they called me later asking me to go back for a second polygraph. This was in October/November or so...for a internship start in June or so

This sounds accurate for most intelligence clearance processes (CIA, NSA, NGA etc.), though since you are a contractor I think you get to skip the psych eval, unless they think you really need. I am told DoD clearances are much simpler to get, not really sure. I know you can take an intelligence TS and get a DoD TS in a matter of days, but if you want to go DoD TS to intel-side, they redo the whole process. YHPM